Libraries subscribing to both EBSCOhost® and AGentTM will be thrilled with the end-result of the recent partnership established between these two companies (EBSCO Publishing and Auto-Graphics, Inc.). Now the AGent system can tap into a library's EBSCOhost resources, providing powerful searching and convenience to the end-user.
Not to be confused with commercial linking servers, AGent is a tool that allows librarians to simultaneously search multiple databases and other resources (as subscribed to by the library) and retrieve intuitively displayed results from those items selected. AGent creates a single entry point to library resources and automatically validates a researcher for access to these materials. This system enables users to launch a search across databases and other reference resources, yet view results in their native result screen and format, insuring copyright compliance. Thus, researchers using AGent would retrieve results from EBSCOhost databases, complete with EBSCOhost native navigation tools, display pages etc., while still within the realm of the AGent system. In addition, AGent supports a variety of delivery formats including EBSCOhost Z39.50 MARC format, SUTRS format, and its native format.
AGent is simple to administer for librarians, and offers four different search types for researchers. The system offers great flexibility allowing libraries to increase functionality where appropriate. From a library desiring the ability to search its own catalog and Z39.50 sites, to institutions with subscriptions to hundreds of online databases, AGent intelligently accesses information, and provides a single point of research.
"Working with EBSCO on the integration of our two systems has been wonderful," says Albert Flores, Vice President of Library Sales and Marketing at Auto-Graphics. "We have found an organization with matching or compatible technology, a commitment to copyright integrity and even more importantly, an organization in EBSCO that believes in making the content they provide available to as many people as they can in as many ways as possible. We look forward to a long and successful partnership."
Auto-Graphics provides resource sharing and portal software services to clients who create, manage, publish and access information using the Internet. The company's systems are used by more than 10,000 libraries in the United States and Canada. The company's Web site is located at www.auto-graphics.com.
Released: Sept. 16, 2002
